Last January’s PGA Merchandise Show looked like it might be renamed the Indoor Golf Simulator Show. The number of new simulation companies (at least to me) was staggering. If I were rich enough to afford one, the thought of researching which brand would be the right one would seem overwhelming. My inbox is currently full of simulator press releases.
The January 2025 launch of the TGL simulator golf league – backed by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy – will only accelerate the popularity of simulators.
Like flat-screen TVs before them, prices for simulators appear to be coming down. Could they soon be affordable to the general public? Competition and improving technology are making homeownership slightly more affordable. In the meantime, businesses with indoor simulators are popping up everywhere: golf clubs, health clubs, bars, restaurants, hotels and standalone businesses like X-Golf. There’s a new one near me – Sauced BBQ & Spirits in San Jose. I can’t help but wonder: how many simulators are too many? I guess we’ll find out eventually.
Which of these modern trends are you for or against? Let us know in the comments below.
